Opera propels community singers onto famous stage

An opera company consisting of nearly 200 singers, some of whom have not performed before an audience since school, will take to the stage this weekend for a very special production.

The Monster in the Maze has drawn together people from across Sheffield to perform at the city's famous Crucible theatre.

It will be only the second time the opera, telling the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, has been performed in the UK, and it will bring together groups from children's choirs to professional musicians.

Jo Towler, from Sheffield arts charity Music in the Round, said: "This is an opera made by the people of Sheffield, for the people of Sheffield - and with all ages, all abilities."

The mega-cast includes children and youth choruses, an orchestra, a brass band, and Ensemble 360, which is Music in the Round's professional musicians.

Members of the cast have also helped create the production, with many of the children designing their own costumes and students at Sheffield College on hand to turn those into reality.

Ms Towler, Music in the Round's chief executive, said: "A community opera is different from an opera you might see at the Royal Opera House or at Glyndebourne.

"The majority of young people involved have maybe done a bit of singing, but to our knowledge none of them have done opera before.

"And in the adults' chorus, some people said they haven't sung since school or have never done anything like this."

Ms Towler said it had been "a wonderful few months watching people get more and more involved and more and more confident in singing".

Peformer Riya Nagaraja, 15, said she "never thought I'd get this opportunity".

"I got really excited when I found out it was going to be performed at The Crucible," she said.

Riya explained she had previously sung at school concerts and through her Kannada Balaga Indian community.

But she said she had never tried opera before, and joined the production thinking it would be standard choir music.

"Now that I've tried it, I absolutely love it. I love how you can express yourself through singing without stopping to talk," she added.

"It feels very theatrical, and it brings such a strong atmosphere to the audience."

Meanwhile, Sam Carroll, 18, who plays one of the children forced into a maze to face the notorious Minotaur, said it was "very different from what I'm used to".

"I'm very much more pop/indie kind of style, so opera is a big step for me," she said.

"But it's such a good environment to be in. It feels like such a big opportunity, yet everyone's still human and supportive."

Unlike many operas, The Monster in the Maze, which is by Jonathan Dove, is all in English and runs to only 50 minutes.

Ms Towler said it would be "an amazing spectacle".

"To see that many performers on the Crucible stage having a really, really good time, enjoying being part of it - it really is a joyful experience."

Four performances of The Monster in the Maze are due to take place, with two on Friday and two on Saturday.

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